Raw Sewage Campaign

There's cross-party support for a move by a Fife Conservative MSP to stop trains dumping raw sewage on the tracks.

Murdo Fraser is backing a Rail, Maritime and Transport Union campaign to have retention tanks fitted on all ScotRail trains by April 2016.

That's exactly a year after the Dutch company Abellio takes over the running of services.

Retention tanks are scheduled to be retrofitted by December 2017, but the MSP wants the process expedited to improve the safety of workers. 

Mr Fraser said: "In modern day Scotland it is incredible that raw, unprocessed sewage is pumped straight onto railway tracks whilst trains are in motion. 

"This is a filthy practice that is both dangerous and unsanitary for those who work on the lines. There aren't too many other professions where you are at risk of being sprayed with raw sewage.  

"The RMT has already made progress in pressuring Transport Scotland and franchise holders to drop the initial date for fitting retention tanks but I believe that it is perfectly feasible to have all trains retrofitted by April 2016. 

"Furthermore, for communities that border train tracks in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire this campaign takes on added importance as no-one should have to live next to areas where raw sewage is dumped."